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Carlow GAA thread

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Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Wouldn't say the hurling underage has more status than underage football. Just like in adult hurling, it's dominated by the handful of counties that rule the roost. You're not getting a surprise package winning much.

But the manner in who we're losing to is a worry."
Hurling is different from football.

You can start taking football seriously at 19 or 20 and still make it at the top level. You can't do that in hurling.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1072 - 02/04/2026 18:58:30    2664481

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Replying To ACarlowGael:  "I'm probably one of the posters this is aimed at. What I haven't got across previously is that I am of course concerned about the underage results but I don't believe its doomsday stuff.

From watching our underage hurling teams over the last number of years, I think a key difference between now and say 10/15 years ago is the conditioning of underage hurling teams. If you don't have the strength and power at minor and U20 level you will get left behind no matter what skill level you have. Our underage hurling teams are regularly getting bullied in games, through no fault of their own. Many of our players who play Senior inter county probably don't get their conditioning levels up until they have been with the senior set up for a couple of years.

The U20 game against Meath last weekend, very few players could break a tackle and were swarmed by Meath players.

There definitely is an element of clubs struggling to get coaches at times. Also the coaching courses are all held in January/February and maybe some in March. I think it would be useful it have some additional courses in the summer. There might be a bigger attendance once teams are back training etc."
The u20 football preparation this year was a bit of a disaster by all accounts. And we certainly don't have the best players on the panel. Where's Aaron Dowling, for example?

He's a seriously good footballer

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1072 - 02/04/2026 19:00:04    2664482

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The 20s footballers have been disappointing. Very poor at the back and not enough firepower upfront. This is a product of very weak underage leagues. I've said it for many years now but we should only have division 1 football for clubs and division 2 is for second teams only. I would be very familiar with those u20s but the best of them are rarely tested in county leagues. They go to inter county level and find themselves nowhere near it. I think some cross county leagues might have more value than the springs leagues too.
Off the current 20s as weak as they are there are still a few potential senior players Jake nolan should have been added to the senior panel from the get go he is lost to hurling now. Moran in the backs is a good ball carrier and ryan from pal upfront has a bit of quality about him coakley is decent too but would need to develop a bit more physically
I think the minor football team will be decent too. There are 4 or 5 on that with serious potential

Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1749 - 02/04/2026 19:47:17    2664492

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I was away for a while great win for footballers Great watch on TG4

Never seen hurlers play Dublin I know we lost but was it a bad performance or how did we go?

Ceatharlach7000 (Carlow) - Posts: 33 - 02/04/2026 21:26:15    2664503

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Replying To CARPS:  "The u20 hurlers were in a special B section. They lost to Meath by 14 points and failed to make the A groups.

In minor we also took part in a special B competition to qualify for the A section, which included Antrim, Wicklow, Laois, Kerry, Meath, Kildare, Offaly and ourselves.

In u20 football we competed in the A section, with an open draw."
It's not the 90s I m afraid Carps. There's no B sections or competition - completely wrong - look at the results on the Leinster site. It's called phases. It is based on seedings. In hurling not everyone who enters gets straight away into an even number of groups like the football. The minors and the 20 hurlers were in the same competition as Kilkenny, Galway etc only seeded lower - it happens in most sports as you may be aware of. They had the same "chance" of winning the Leinster/all Ireland's as the higher seeded teams only a longer pathway - it has been that way for the last number of years. Last 3 years we had a group to play out of but this year it has changed to a more knockout system early on and then qualifying for a group stage - all on merit - if you are good enough to win your way to compete against the top, you earn that right I suppose. This year there is a secondary competition for the 20 hurlers similar to what the 20 footballers will compete in starting v Laois (I think as both can't qualify I ve seen it down as the first round of the Andrew cordon cup on Leinster site). The hurlers wil get a few more games and a chance to win something too. Same with the minor hurlers. Hopefully the minor football team can qualify for the knockout but big tasks ahead. But I think the real news here, going on your observation of the football competition, is that Kilkenny minors are now an A football team which is mighty progress from them.....

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2648 - 02/04/2026 22:04:36    2664509

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Replying To old yellar:  "It's not the 90s I m afraid Carps. There's no B sections or competition - completely wrong - look at the results on the Leinster site. It's called phases. It is based on seedings. In hurling not everyone who enters gets straight away into an even number of groups like the football. The minors and the 20 hurlers were in the same competition as Kilkenny, Galway etc only seeded lower - it happens in most sports as you may be aware of. They had the same "chance" of winning the Leinster/all Ireland's as the higher seeded teams only a longer pathway - it has been that way for the last number of years. Last 3 years we had a group to play out of but this year it has changed to a more knockout system early on and then qualifying for a group stage - all on merit - if you are good enough to win your way to compete against the top, you earn that right I suppose. This year there is a secondary competition for the 20 hurlers similar to what the 20 footballers will compete in starting v Laois (I think as both can't qualify I ve seen it down as the first round of the Andrew cordon cup on Leinster site). The hurlers wil get a few more games and a chance to win something too. Same with the minor hurlers. Hopefully the minor football team can qualify for the knockout but big tasks ahead. But I think the real news here, going on your observation of the football competition, is that Kilkenny minors are now an A football team which is mighty progress from them....."
The Andrew Cordon Cup is going since 2019. Its named after a Carlow man.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19025 - 03/04/2026 09:05:32    2664544

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Replying To Viking66:  "The Andrew Cordon Cup is going since 2019. Its named after a Carlow man."
Yes, am aware of that. A great competition and we won it a few years back - 2022. Just pointing out to Carps that the hurlers didn't play a "B" etc competition to qualify or not into main Leinster competition. Secondary competitions after the main Leinster one do give more games for teams which is deserved after the work they put in.

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2648 - 03/04/2026 09:49:38    2664546

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Replying To old yellar:  "It's not the 90s I m afraid Carps. There's no B sections or competition - completely wrong - look at the results on the Leinster site. It's called phases. It is based on seedings. In hurling not everyone who enters gets straight away into an even number of groups like the football. The minors and the 20 hurlers were in the same competition as Kilkenny, Galway etc only seeded lower - it happens in most sports as you may be aware of. They had the same "chance" of winning the Leinster/all Ireland's as the higher seeded teams only a longer pathway - it has been that way for the last number of years. Last 3 years we had a group to play out of but this year it has changed to a more knockout system early on and then qualifying for a group stage - all on merit - if you are good enough to win your way to compete against the top, you earn that right I suppose. This year there is a secondary competition for the 20 hurlers similar to what the 20 footballers will compete in starting v Laois (I think as both can't qualify I ve seen it down as the first round of the Andrew cordon cup on Leinster site). The hurlers wil get a few more games and a chance to win something too. Same with the minor hurlers. Hopefully the minor football team can qualify for the knockout but big tasks ahead. But I think the real news here, going on your observation of the football competition, is that Kilkenny minors are now an A football team which is mighty progress from them....."
Yeller, I know what you're trying to do, but you're wrong. The Kilkenny minors are back in the Leinster championship in football this year. Go check it again, more carefully.

As for u20 hurling, there is clearly an A and B divide in Leinster with four teams getting automatic placings in the groups and eight other 'lesser' sides playing off to qualify for the A.

However, the football is an open draw. It's not segregated. That's my point.

We need to stop deluding ourselves. 15 years ago, there were only six teams in the Leinster A u21 hurling championship and we were one of them.

Being disingenuous won't help solve Carlow's youth hurling malaise. We need to face up to reality, Yeller.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1072 - 03/04/2026 15:09:56    2664596

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Replying To old yellar:  "Yes, am aware of that. A great competition and we won it a few years back - 2022. Just pointing out to Carps that the hurlers didn't play a "B" etc competition to qualify or not into main Leinster competition. Secondary competitions after the main Leinster one do give more games for teams which is deserved after the work they put in."
Of course!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19025 - 03/04/2026 15:32:17    2664601

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Replying To Ceatharlach7000:  "I was away for a while great win for footballers Great watch on TG4

Never seen hurlers play Dublin I know we lost but was it a bad performance or how did we go?"
Very good first half and two great goals from Mouse and Chris Nolan. Dublin are a serious team and very fit.

Ciaran Whelan and James Doyle are back along with Conor Kehoe. No harm in the bit of a break till the Leix game to let the injured players recover.

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1545 - 03/04/2026 20:21:20    2664629

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Replying To CARPS:  "Yeller, I know what you're trying to do, but you're wrong. The Kilkenny minors are back in the Leinster championship in football this year. Go check it again, more carefully.

As for u20 hurling, there is clearly an A and B divide in Leinster with four teams getting automatic placings in the groups and eight other 'lesser' sides playing off to qualify for the A.

However, the football is an open draw. It's not segregated. That's my point.

We need to stop deluding ourselves. 15 years ago, there were only six teams in the Leinster A u21 hurling championship and we were one of them.

Being disingenuous won't help solve Carlow's youth hurling malaise. We need to face up to reality, Yeller."
It's great to have a chat about the Gaa. But at least get the facts right about things like the competition structure. I think it helps an argument. Have a look at the Leinster website for yourself. There's no A or B as you refer too. It's called seeding/phases- based on earned merit. It has happened before in competitions - I can give you examples if you wish?
The kilkenny minors bit - I can't make sense of what you're saying tbh. I m fully aware of Kilkenny minors involvement in Leinster - they entered and were drawn in a group - nothing earned bar entering!. I was comparing your calling our U20s footballers competing in an A section (your words!) with Kilkenny at minor football level - exact same scenario. So they must be an A team so..
Underage is what it is. And it's unpredictable. In 2009 when we should have been strong in u21 (minor team of 06 Leinster final to full age, few more in panel etc) we lost to Kildare (2 out of the last 3 years if I think back correctly around then) - we were in the "A" comp that year and the winner progressed to the full competition (we had beaten Louth in the previous round). That was an actual separate competition unlike this year's competition structure. So underage is a minefield.
Anyway, let's here your good ideas to revitalise and improve things etc and how are the going to get done?

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2648 - 03/04/2026 23:13:04    2664640

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Replying To CARPS:  "Yeller, I know what you're trying to do, but you're wrong. The Kilkenny minors are back in the Leinster championship in football this year. Go check it again, more carefully.

As for u20 hurling, there is clearly an A and B divide in Leinster with four teams getting automatic placings in the groups and eight other 'lesser' sides playing off to qualify for the A.

However, the football is an open draw. It's not segregated. That's my point.

We need to stop deluding ourselves. 15 years ago, there were only six teams in the Leinster A u21 hurling championship and we were one of them.

Being disingenuous won't help solve Carlow's youth hurling malaise. We need to face up to reality, Yeller."
Kilkenny minor footballers are not back in the Leinster championship. Like last year they are the 4th team in the development group along with us WW and WX. But they only compete for the Leinster minor shield in it. So even if by chance they won all their games they don't count when it comes to the championship table and can't qualify out of it. The idea is that the three other teams wont play their strongest teams against them as we didn't when beating them recently.

Also Leinster minor championship is not a completely open draw as ourselves WW and WX are not in it when drawn as we're all kept back for the development group. Hence the two teams out of the three of us only who qualify out of it only make the preliminary quarter final where we play the third placed teams from other groups. Like last year we won the development group beating WW and WX but then played WH in prel quarter.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1810 - 04/04/2026 09:24:44    2664663

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "Kilkenny minor footballers are not back in the Leinster championship. Like last year they are the 4th team in the development group along with us WW and WX. But they only compete for the Leinster minor shield in it. So even if by chance they won all their games they don't count when it comes to the championship table and can't qualify out of it. The idea is that the three other teams wont play their strongest teams against them as we didn't when beating them recently.

Also Leinster minor championship is not a completely open draw as ourselves WW and WX are not in it when drawn as we're all kept back for the development group. Hence the two teams out of the three of us only who qualify out of it only make the preliminary quarter final where we play the third placed teams from other groups. Like last year we won the development group beating WW and WX but then played WH in prel quarter."
I never said the Leinster minor was an open draw. I said the u20 is an open draw.

And according to Leinster GAA, Kilkenny are taking part this year. They have dropped the South East Shield. I can't post a screenshot here. But you can go check yourself.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1072 - 04/04/2026 12:59:05    2664691

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